The Republican journal., 1887-12-15
The 10Th Maine.
EXTRACTS FROM ARMY LETTERS FROM TEIE
FRONT

EXTRACTS FROM ARMY LETTERS FROM THE
FRONT.
No 3.
The enemy are still behind their Scba>topol
at Fredericksburg and continuc to strongly
picket their shore of the river. Lying on the
cold wet ground at the battle Of Fredoricks-
burg has caused good deal Of sickness in the
18th. Co. A. has lost eleven by death and
most of the companies have lost more or less.
The regiment GO into action with about
800 men. How vivid and sad is the memory Of
that old Falmouth camp on that cold Winly
hill and O! that little graveyard OIL the knoll,
how 1t grew. There was cheering in the 18th
one day. and some of the old soldiers wanted TO
know what it was for. Some old fellow speaks
out "Oh, the 10Th Maine is goin-, to have
railroad built over to their graveyard ana it
tickles thcm.'' No subject 50 solemn but the
old soldiers would have their jokes about it.
The army of the Potomac is again under
marching orders and but for drcnchn- rain
storm would have given the rebels u SOUND
thrashlng. Two days Of rain have converted
the soil of old Virginia into an enormous soup
rendering the movement of troops almost
impossible. few days since our army CORPS.
the 2nd. was reviewed by Gen. Burnside.
Many, alas. who We're with lis Oh Il similar
occasion two months ago at this time sleep he
meath the bloody field Of Fredericksburg. Dur
ing the present advance Of the army, our Corps
is held in reserve. Perhaps we will have 40
part in the battle-perhaps we will have the
hottest part. Who can tell what day may
bring forth: Verify not che, especially in the
army.
A battle is not desirable thing to be engaa-
ed in. if a person possesses the smallest regard
for personal safety Absence of body is sure
ly the safest but, trust few are the men who
hold their own lives ,lparcr Than thai of 1h4ir
country. The 10Th is back IN winter quarters
after the mud march OF Joe Hooker. \ re-
cent inspection Of the regiment gives Us the
following report: There i no better regi-
ment in the service Of its a.r. Well drilled
and well disciplined and cared for--a line rcri-
ment." 1t is considered i hi, thn- hy the
boys to have their regiment stand tle highest
of the thirteen in the 2ni Division.
Camp near Falmouth. Va. Jan. ~. l>t2
TIE 18TH IN TIE GETTY ,HtKG CAMPAIGN.
After participating in all the BurnSipl1 ard
Hooker campaigns. the 18th fell i'll Hume l1:h
and footed along on the hart, track tuWNrl
Gettysburg. reaching there iu>i a~ tnc rp!;t.l-
were emerging from the mountains. We cross
ed the Occoquan near Colchester anI proc ed
ed 10 Ccntrevillc. We then took the line of
march to Thoroughfarc Gap. crossing the Old
Bull Run battlefield and reaching the Gap in
time to head off column of the enemy. Here
! the rebel cavalry kept Us all wiraWakc. Al
llaymarket, on our leaving the Gap. Tho cHeiny
shellel us from battery b, the roadside. Kill
ing one man in the 10Th and wGunding many i'll
the Division One of our batteries whc,lal
into position ard soon caused them to Timber
up and leave. From Edwards Ferry we march,
ed to Frederick City and from there to Gettys-
burg, making 30 and 40 miles a day. Here WE
struck snaS. am only referring to the 2nd
Corps, commanded at this time by Gen. IIan-
cock. At Gettysburg We met the whole Army
Of the Potomac under its new commanders
Gen. Meade. The l>t and Ilth Corp, ioIiyit
the whole rebel army on the lst dH! Of July
and having no support were driven from their
position and their brave commander. Gen.
Reynolds, killed. Wednesday night the 2nI
Corps campea about two miles from the field.
All the other Corps We're close by. Thursday
morning at daylight we all fell in after part.k-
Ing of short ratons of hard bread and pork.
and moved slowly and Soemnly to the future
battlefield. The 2nd Corp, was called fight
ing Corps and had left on bntttiield> more
men than its ranks then contained. but all
! were conscious of the terrible ordeal marked
out for it on that day and it moved firmly and
| resolutely on. All was still in the early morn
| save the tramp of men and the rumble OF long
trains of ambulances in the distance is they
| uncoiled from position and moved along With
the column. The thought that some Of otlr
number would occupy them before night.
| wounded and bleeding. could hot be rerre>~rd
The certainty was too apparcnt and many II
our numbers would never see another day
Who would it be was Il natural reflection. The
summer morning. so peaceful and beautiful.
would soon be marred by the wild cominotion
of battle and the little birds by the roadside
We uld soon be frightened when screaming
shells and their bursting fragments W"ui till
the air. Soon we halted by the centre Of Tie
line of battle. The walls and fences are torn
down to facilitate the handling Of troops when
called into action.
soon the men returned to their arms TO rest
a little, for the long weary march of two hum
dred miles does not leave them in Il very
nimble state. Their faces are pale and ha@-
gard, their clothing Worn and covered with
mud. but quiet self-po>session ana ctermi-
nation marks every man. Across the harrow
field, not mile distant. stand the re>o!ue
legions of Lee. flushed with their victory Of
the previous day. Every man be >nre HI,
line, and all heed the caution. soon one of
Towards batteries opened on the onelhy hut
could get no reply. For Il lon% time nothing
could be got out Of them and d1lDt> began 10
rise in our minds about their Willingness to
fight us at all. The men began to build little
fires to make their coffee; officers Were loun--
ing about in groups, and quietness and security
seemed to prevade the hour. Suddenly H.
boom. boom. boom. and shriekin@ shells iihci
the air with their bursting fragments a. Il
rebel battery. opened upon V. Thick volumes
OF smoke indicated their well chosen positions.
Lie down men, is the command, and veIy
promptly it is obeyel. The shells come Thick
and fast; some high in the air; some bounding
along the ground: some to the right AMI SOME
to the left, and bursting they scatter their
deadly fragments In every direction. Look
out" and down dodge several Thousand head,
to escape cannon ball that some one lIa,
seen bounding along the ground. But the
deadly missile has no good mission. DnN ard it
comes. | think see it now. as we saw it on
that memorable day, blowing its way through
cutting tl.
ing many more. Hundreds witnessed the sad
sight, and soon the slightly wounded hobe to
the rear and the dead are removed a short dix
tance out Of the way. Hospitals are establish
ed by displaying red flags. The men row
stand in readiness to seize their arms and
spring into line at a moments notice. The
horses have been sent to the rear. Sharp vol
lcys of musketry rcsound on both sides. The
1st and 3d Corps are on our left and right. res
pectively, and in a few minutes are hard at il.
1t was thus far upward of two hours. at which
time Gen. Hancock rode along The line wearing
troubled face. We had been silent spectators
all day. The md Corps, but few i'll number,
had been held i'll reserve. but had suffered ter
ribly from shot and shell. Gen. Hancock had
exclusive command of the lst 2nd and 81
Corps, Gen. Meade having conferred that hon
or and responsibility upon him. Into line
Colonel, into line" was the command Of our
brigade commander, and in an instant the br-
gade was on its feet ready to DO or die. Tie
y
hold that part Of the line. The 3rd Corps was
being hard pressed and was falling back. The
rebels were close at their heels and were per
fectly wild with excitement and the thoughts
Of an easy victory.
When the 3d Corps had passed by and over
our lines, and the rebels came within sixty
yards, the command Commence firing" was
given, and almost instantly solid sheet If fire
was poured into their ranks. Through the
smoke we could see them advancing. but Slow
ly and hesitatingly, for in a few moments their
strong line had melted away and there were
only few daring ones left. And when the
command, Elk bayonetS, forward" was giv-
en-. onward dashed all that was left of the 18Th
while cheer upon cheer rose above the tumuit
of battle The enemy scampered in every tli-
recton; some hiding behind rocks and bushes
to escape the charge and afterwards coming
into our lines. Only few got back to their
own lines.
The 10Th Me. on the battlefield at the close Of
the second day.
Nationality of Fishermen.